Farmers being misled on agricultural laws by vested interests: Jitendra Singh

Jitendra Singh was addressing the party workers, sarpanches and BDC Chairmen from the border villages and other areas of districts Kathua and Udhampur.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said that the contract agreement, as per the Act brought in through the new agricultural laws, will be for the crops and not for the land, and alleged that the farmers are being misled to believe otherwise.

Launching a campaign from his Lok Sabha constituency in support of the farmers' laws brought in by the Narendra Modi-led government and against the disinformation being spread by the Congress, Singh was addressing the party workers, sarpanches and BDC Chairmen from the border villages and other areas of districts Kathua and Udhampur.

He said the irony is that while the common farmer is satisfied and has no apprehensions, it is some politically motivated interests which have no knowledge or stake in farming but who are trying to make an issue out of it by trying to mislead the farmers. Singh said it is in the interest of the farming community of India and common people at large, that all the like-minded people should come out and vociferously dispel the disinformation and the malicious campaign launched by the self-seeking elements.

While the bill clearly prohibits sale, lease or mortgage of farmers’ land, Singh asked, where is the question of farmers’ land being taken over by certain capitalists as is being alleged? He said, the Bill clearly states that the agreement will be for the crops and not for the land.

Moreover, Singh said, the contract agreement with the farmers is to get the fixed price. Not only this, but the new Act also provides the provision for farmers to withdraw from the Contract at any time without any penalty, he said.

He accused the Opposition of making up imaginary issues of contention which do not find any reference in the Laws. For example, he said, it is nowhere mentioned that the provision of MSP will be done away with at any point of time and yet the Congress Party and some others are trying to create false fears in the minds of innocent farmers.

Singh appealed to party colleagues to reach out to each and every farmer in every village and explain to him the big conspiracy being hatched against him. This, he said, will enable the agricultural community to avail of the enormous welfare initiatives introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.